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All Graded Stakes Cross Country Pick 5 Pays $1,500 To Winners

Saturday's all graded stakes Cross Country Pick 5 featuring action from Belmont and Delaware Park paid $1,500.75 for selecting all five winners for the 50-cent wager. The total pool was $197,502.

Dalika started the sequence by besting Luck Money by one length in the $150,000 Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial in Race 5 at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del., with fillies and mares 3-years-old and up competing at 1 3/8 miles on the turf. Trained by Al Stall, Jr. and ridden by Miguel Mena, Dalika completed the course in 2:16.35 and returned $10.60 on a $2 win wager.

Three consecutive stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. comprised the heart of the wager, starting with Santa Barbara's rally for a half-length win in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational in Race 7. The Irish-bred shipper for trainer Aidan O'Brien rallied from seventh at the top of the stretch under internationally renowned jockey Ryan Moore, winning the 1 1/4-mile inner turf contest for sophomore fillies that was the first leg of the Turf Triple series. Santa Barbara, who notched a 2:03.76 final time, paid $4.30 as the even-money favorite in Race 7.

Prat, aboard the runner-up Con Lima in the Belmont Oaks Invitational, earned a trip to the winner's circle in the next race piloting Souper Sensational to a 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Victory Ride for 3-year-old fillies sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track in Race 8. Trained by Casse, Souper Sensational returned $13.80, posting a final time of 1:15.79 to top Ova Charged.

Belmont's other Turf Triple opener – the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational for 3-year-olds also going 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf, saw O'Brien and Moore team up again to win aboard a talented Irish-bred shipper, as Bolshoi Ballet rewarded his even-money favoritism with a 1 1/4-length score, paying $4.10. Bolshoi Ballet topped the French-bred Tokyo Gold, hitting the wire in 2:04.42.

Delaware Park bookended the action when Miss Marissa bested a six-horse field of fillies and mares 3-years-old and up to win the $400,000 Grade 2 Delaware Handicap by 1 1/4 lengths in Race 9. Miss Marissa, conditioned by James Ryerson and ridden by Daniel Centeno, notched a final time of 2:04.50, paying $11.40.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

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Althiqa, Summer Romance Prepare For Diana Stakes At Saratoga

Trainer Charlie Appleby sent out Althiqa and Summer Romance to a one-two finish in the $500,000 Grade 1 Longines Just a Game on June 5 going one mile on turf for fillies and mares at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

On Sunday, the 4-year-old fillies breezed a half-mile in company in :52.55 over the Belmont inner turf rated good. Althiqa started out in front of her stablemate with Summer Romance making up ground through the stretch run, galloping out in front.

Appleby's traveling assistant Sophie Chretien said Summer Romance benefits from having a target.

“She relaxes more from behind and it's better for her to develop,” said Chretien. “They're both doing very well. With the way the weather has been lately, I'm glad we were able to do the gallop today.”

Both fillies are preparing for a start in the nine-furlong $500,000 Grade 1 Diana on July 17 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

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Casse Points Souper Sensational To Test Stakes At Saratoga

After acing a proverbial quiz with a 3 1/4-length win in Saturday's Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said Souper Sensational could now be ready for a test – the $500,000 Grade 1 Longines Test on August 7 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. that is – after coming out of her effort yesterday in good order.

Live Oak Plantation's Souper Sensational notched her first career graded stakes score when going five-wide in the upper stretch and surging home under jockey Flavien Prat to win the 6 1/2-furlong main track sprint for 3-year-old fillies. Her win over Ova Charged earned the Curlin filly a personal-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure as she improved her career record to 3-1-1 in seven starts.

Casse had Souper Sensational on the trail for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks earlier in her sophomore campaign, where she finished third in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks in March over a fast track. In her last start, she ran fourth in the Grade 2 Eight Belles in April at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., also over a fast track. The Victory Ride was the first time Souper Sensational ran over a track rated good.

“She's always shown a lot of talent,” said Casse. “We tried to get her to the Oaks and maybe in retrospect, she might just be a good sprinter type or going a mile. But the race set up for her yesterday and Flavien rode her well. She was impressive.”

In the Eight Belles, Hall of Famer John Velazquez was aboard for the seven-furlong sprint, and the veteran rider told Casse afterward he was disappointed in the effort based on Souper Sensational's ability.

“She trained really well into this race. [Assistant trainer] David Carroll, who had her for me at Louisville, thought she trained as well, if not better, than ever coming into the race, and he was right,” Casse said. “The last time she ran at Churchill, Johnny came back and was very frustrated. He said he was following a horse and a horse stopped in front of him and said we should have done a lot better than she did.

“So, we gave her a little break. She had been running hard,” Casse added. “I gave her just a little training beak. Sometimes you don't have to go home to get a break. We just didn't do anything with her for a little while. After the race at Churchill, our goal was the Test, and I figured, what's the best way to get to that race?' And yesterday was a great step.”

The G1 Longines Test for sophomore fillies is held at seven furlongs. Casse said Souper Sensational was headed upstate to Saratoga Springs to begin training for that contest next month.

“She got a 95 Beyer, which is very good for a 3-year-old filly. If you consider the wide trip too, it was impressive,” Casse said reflecting on the Victory Ride. “She's now headed to Saratoga this morning and we'll look at the Test.”

John C. Oxley's Palazzi had a troubled trip and finished sixth in Saturday's $1 million Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational at 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf. After breaking from the inside post under Tyler Gaffalione in the nine-horse field, Palazzi could not find racing room until it was too late, finishing 3 1/4 lengths behind winner Bolshoi Ballet. It was the third time in six starts Palazzi drew the inside post in a stakes race.

“Poor Palazzi, he can't catch a break,” Casse said. “He drew the one-hole again and there wasn't anything Tyler did wrong, but there was nowhere to go and there was too much to do when he finally got loose. I guess we'll go to the next big one in Saratoga.”

With the Belmont Derby Invitational serving as the first leg of the Turf Triple series, the “big one” at Saratoga will host the middle jewel of the series, with the $1 million Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational at 1 3/16 miles set for Whitney Day on August 7.

Casse's other entry in a Turf Triple race, Spanish Loveaffair, ran last-of-eight in the $700,000 Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf. Casse didn't pick up a next spot yet but said a shorter distance could suit the Karakontie filly better. Spanish Loveaffair is owned by Gary Barber, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael Hernon.

“I just think we're going to cut her back and go a mile,” Casse said. “She wants a race where there's a little more pace. The problem is the further you run, the less pace there is. She was just too rambunctious early on yesterday.”

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Stars and Stripes Card Generates $21.5-Million Handle

The 11-race Stars and Stripes Day card at Belmont Park Saturday generated $21,535,076 in all-sources handle. The card featured the $1-million GI Belmont Derby and the $700,000 GI Belmont Oaks. The Derby and Oaks kicked off the New York Racing Association's Turf Triple series which will continue in the males division with the Aug. 7 $1-million GI Saratoga Derby Invitational and on the distaff side with the Aug. 8 Saratoga Oaks.

Saturday's Belmont card, which also included the GIII Victory Ride S., attracted an on-track crowd of 3,574 and on-track handle totaled $1,923,650.

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